Raja Muda 2012 - subtly different

If you live in Asia and sail, this is not news. But here is the update anyway. The 23rd edition of one of the region’s most unique events starts tomorrow (Saturday 18th). The Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta (the ‘Raja Muda’ to you and me) takes off from Port Klang with a passage race to Pulau Pangkor, then continues with another passage to Penang, in-port racing in Penang, one last passage up to Langkawi, a day’s inshore racing in Bass Harbour and then a full-on Full Monty of a party at the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club to close out the event.

It’s only a week, you say, but the combination of coastal passage races, inshore races and (rather importantly) high octane socials at all the stops makes this a thoroughly character-testing event. It’s not a sprint. It’s not even a series of sprints. It is a marathon, and only the strong survive. The weather can (and will) produce everything from super-light breezes to arced-up tropical thunder squalls, and the social programme is not far behind.

There are a few new names in the list of 35 starters this year, but equally important are the absentees at the top of the Racing list whose missing names could eave the door open for a new name to be engraved on the Raja Muda Trophy. Back to defend their 2011 title are the crew of EFG Bank Mandrake, but the 40-footers have the weather gauge this year with no 76 or 52 foot boats in the top division.

Somehow, the door seems to be wide open. Keen followers of the Raja Muda are looking at a subtly different event this year.